TUMOR OF THE BRACHIAL PLEXUS RESULTING IN INJURY FROM RESECTION

In a case where a general surgeon operated on a mass above the clavicle, he discovered that the mass was not a lymph node but rather was a tumor of the brachial plexus.
The surgeon did not perform a frozen section biopsy. Had he done so, he would have discovered that the tumor was a schwannoma, a nerve sheath tumor. To remove a schwannoma, a surgeon must preserve those nerve fibers that are involved in the capsule of the tumor.
In this case, the surgeon removed the tumor and damaged or cut fibers of the brachial plexus because he failed to recognize the type of tumor that he was resecting.
The patient developed weakness and loss of muscle function in the shoulder and upper arm.
This case became a medical malpractice case alleging that the surgeon should have performed a frozen section biopsy and that he should have called surgeon more skilled in nerve preservation.

Should you have any questions concerning cases involving nerve sheath tumors or injuries of the brachial plexus, please inquire.